10 Day Albania Expedition

For almost 50 years, Albania has remained a mystery to most people. Enver Hoxha’s long-lasting communist government effectively cut off the nation from the outside world.

Unquestionably, Hohxa’s harsh regime and extensive monitoring influenced the history and culture of the nation.

After emerging from isolation in the 1990s, Albania moved rapidly to establish its identity.

Albania is a diverse and beautiful country that provides a wide range of adventures. Its mountainous hinterland offers outstanding trekking, its coastline may be the most gorgeous in all of Europe, and its quirky cities, such as Tirana, Sarandë, and Shkodër, add to the country’s allure.

Ready to reserve your spot?

Albania Expedition Itinerary

Day 1: Arrivals into Tirana

Arrivals in Tirana throughout the day. After completing immigration formalities, you’ll be transferred to the hotel. You can start visiting this dynamic and eccentric capital city at this time of day if you come earlier.

We will have a brief welcome meeting to go over the trip and get to know your fellow travelers at 18:00. There will be an optional group meal with traditional Albanian cuisine after the meeting.

Accommodation: Hotel

Day 2: Tirana & Kruje

We’ll begin our walking tour of Tirana after breakfast. The journey will start with stops at the House of Leaves and the Bunk’art 2 Museum, which both provide an insightful look at life in Albania during the five decades of Enver Hoxha’s tyranny.

We’ll take a car to the neighboring town of Kruje for lunch, where we can explore the Castle of Skanderbeg, the national hero of Albania.

After Kruje, we will have some time to explore Tirana’s Old Bazaar in the late afternoon.

Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 3: Shokdër Day Trip

Head off early in the morning for a day excursion to the city of Shkodër, located on the banks of Lake Shkodër, near the Albania and Montenegro border. We will visit the renowned Rozafa Castle and take our time discovering all that Shkodër has to offer.

Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 4: Gjirokaster

Heading south today, we will visit the ancient city of stone in Gjirokaster, leaving Tirana behind. Here, we will have the opportunity to see the 13th-century Skenduli House and the 18th-century Argjiro Castle.

Finally, in the early evening, we will arrive in Sarandë where we will be based for the next four nights.

Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 5: Zhulat, Fushëbardhë & Sarandë

We will hike through the Albanian countryside today and stop in the villages of Zhulat and Fushëbardhë. We will return to Sarandë in the evening.

Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 6: Butrint

We’ll explore the UNESCO World Heritage site and the ancient city of Butrint today as we travel even further south. Butrint, one of Albania’s most significant archeological monuments, was formerly a Greek polis and then a Roman city.

We will visit the mussel farms at Lake Butrint after our tour of Butrint. For lunch today, we’ll even get to sample the mussels that are sourced locally.

We’ll stop to see Lekursi Castle on the way back to Sarandë, and then you’ll have the afternoon free to explore Sarandë.

Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 7: Hidden Waterfall & Tatzat Village

We will tour the stunning Hidden Waterfall and the mostly abandoned historic settlement of Tatzat today. We’ll have a local meal and wine sampling in the afternoon.

Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 8: The Albanian Riviera

Today is the day we get to experience Albania’s beautiful coastline, which has gained growing international recognition in the past few years. After stopping at Borsh, Porto Palermo, Palase, Qeparo, Himare, and Llogara Pass, we will go up the coast toward Vlorë.

Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 9: Sazan Island & Vlorë

We will take a boat in the Bay of Vlorë on our last full day of the Albania Expedition to explore the intriguing island of Sazan.

Because Sazan was home to a military base with over 3,000 bunkers designed to withstand nuclear attack, it was cut off from the outside world for many years. The base started to deteriorate in the 1990s and is currently mostly deserted.

Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 10: Transfer Back to Tirana & Departures

We travel from Vlorë back to Tirana today. On the way back, we’ll stop at a few locations.

By late afternoon, we should arrive back in Tirana. Therefore, we advise choosing return flights only those leave after 18:00.

Meals: Breakfast

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